Being different while making a difference: A qualitative analysis of underrepresented nursing faculty members’ lived experiences

Abstract

There is a need to increase the number of faculty members in nursing academia from underrepresented groups. Increased numbers of nursing faculties from underrepresented groups can make an impact on the success and retention rates of students from underrepresented groups. Schools of nursing need to find better ways to be inclusive of all racial/ethnic and gender minorities. By having a better understanding of the isolation these individuals feel, nursing faculty members can make a concerted effort to better include these faculties from underrepresented groups into the organizational culture. Inclusion leads to faculty member success, which can then assist in the recruitment and retention of nursing students from underrepresented groups. This can lead to a nursing workforce better representative of the patients and communities it serves.